Predators 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT), Predators lead series 3-0

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: April 18, 2017

This is going to be pretty bare-bones because it’s after midnight and I’m mad at that game and mad at the officials, but mostly mad at this team. They went up 2-0 in the second, then gave up a fluky one in the third and started playing prevent. The Predators tied it on a goal that shouldn’t have counted, then won in OT. The Blackhawks got on the board in this one, so that’s progress, I guess, but it was mostly the same stuff from this team. It’s easy to blame the stars and say they need to pick it up, which they do, but what made the Hawks so successful during the regular season was their depth. Said depth consisted of multiple younger guys and the only one of those guys who has looked like he belongs on the ice in the playoffs is Tanner Kero. Nick Schmaltz had a horrific game. Ditto Ryan Hartman. When you don’t have that depth, teams can focus on shutting down your heavy hitters and have a good chance of succeeding at doing so. A third line stepped up – the first time we’ve seen that for a full game in this series. The defense has been nothing special, outside of Niklas Hjalmarsson and, surprisingly, Trevor van Riemsdyk. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook have been just okay. Johnny Oduya looks old. Ditto Brian Campbell. Corey Crawford playing out of his mind was the major reason the Hawks were even in it to go to OT, but he’d still be my pick to be traded this off-season if the cap dictates a trade, due to the aforementioned meh-ness of the defense. It’s still not over, stranger things have happened, but yeah, doesn’t look good.

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com